Worcestershire Open Studios is run entirely by artist volunteers who believe in supporting fellow artists and makers.
Gemma Griffiths
Gemma Griffiths is an artist working from her studio on the Malvern Hills. Particularly passionate about drawing and painting outside, in all weather, Gemma enjoys trying to capture the feeling of the elements in her work whether that be brooding skies or stormy seas. Gemma’s international design career was focused on British heritage brands and latterly led to her running award-winning shops for 12 years championing independent designers, artists & makers. Gemma is looking forward to encouraging new artists & makers to join in with Worcestershire Open Studios as well as those further along on their creative journey. Also found as Gemma Wiseman!
Mary Brittain
Mary Brittain is a self-taught painter and sculptor living in rural Worcestershire. Her work in both disciplines is inspired by her surroundings and love of nature, especially garden plants, domestic animals and birds. Mary has exhibited widely within both disciplines. Working across a range of materials painting in both oils and acrylics and drawing in charcoal, pencil and soft pastels, Mary sculpts in clay which is then cast in bronze / bronze resin. Mary has a background in journalism and PR for the jewellery and gift industry and is passionate about supporting and raising the profile of the visual arts in Worcestershire.
Treasurer
Anna Cumming
Anna Cumming is an oil painter living by the Malvern hills, and inspired by the local landscape, and her Scottish heritage. Anna is known for her richly coloured palette knife pieces which invoke a sense of place. She has painted and exhibited full-time, since completing a life-changing course at the, sadly no-longer, Malvern School of Art in 2015. Her previous career was in finance and project management. Anna has significant experience as a solo and group exhibitor taking part in events across the Three Counties and Wales.
Meet our Area Champions
We’re excited to introduce our Area Champions, who will be your go-to contact for any questions before/during Art Week within the relevant areas. These volunteers will help coordinate local marketing efforts and support participants.
Suzanne Nicholl (NW Worcestershire)
Hailing from Wales and living in Worcestershire, Suzanne is inspired by our tangled hedgerows, rolling hills and breathtaking coastlines. Her work features the natural and human influences upon our magnificent landscapes.
She develops many of her pieces from plein air sketches, aiming to encapsulate the time and place in layers of colour, texture and mark making. Suzanne’s work is a personal expression of the landscape, its energy and her connection to it.
WOS was her very first experience of exhibiting when in 2022, and she couldn’t have asked for a more welcoming introduction. Suzanne says “The community is incredibly supportive, and any doubts I had about opening my space to visitors quickly disappeared.”.
Hayley Reynolds (Avon/Evesham)
Hayley has been a professional artist for over a decade, selling her work locally, across the UK, and internationally. Her artist residency began in 2018 at the renowned Confetti Fields, where she has been invited back each year to showcase her latest floral collection during the June/July open days.
In December 2023, she opened the Hayley Reynolds Gallery in Blackminster, a vibrant creative hub where visitors can explore her latest works, see her studio in action, and participate in her art workshops.
With extensive experience in exhibiting her work, Hayley is always happy to share her knowledge. If you’d like to get in touch or arrange a face-to-face chat about joining WOS this year, feel free to reach out!
Worcestershire Open Studios organisers will further support following areas as Area Champions:
Gemma Griffiths -Malvern/Colwall
Mary Brittain -NE Worcestershire/Great Witley area
If you think you can support the organisation for our Art Week event, either as an Area Champion, or a ‘hands on’ volunteer (which can be as simple as helping us unload all the marketing materials from the lorry!), we’d love to hear from you.